Projectile launcher



' Sept. 3, 1963 J. F. CONNOR PROJECTILE LAUNCHER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1959 INVENTOR. J. FRANKLIN CONNOR ATTORNEY p 1953 J. F. CONNOR 3,102,526

PROJECTILE LAUNCHER Filed Sept. 25, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. l0

IN V EN TOR.

J. FRANKLIN CONNOR ATTORNEY Sept. 3, 1963 CONNOR PROJECTILE LAUNCHER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 25, 1959 INVENTOR. J. FRANKLIN CONNOR fiM lllllllllllllllln o I ATTORNEY 3,102,526 PRGJECTILE LAUNCHER J. Franklin Connor, 228 S. Windsor St, Upper Darby, Pa.

' Filed Sept. 25, 1959, Ser. No. 842,466

14 Claims. (Cl. 124-21) This invention relates to launching devices and, more particularly, to a device for launching a projectile along a predetermined path.

, There are many instances of when it is desired to impel a projectile along a selected path, such as in various types of sports, target shoots, amusement devices, and the like. In many instances, it is also desirable to control the path of movement of the projectile, in free flight, such as in pitching and batting practice activities of baseball. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a projectile launcher which can be used for impelling a projectile into a free flight path in a selected direction, which is extremely simple in construction, efficient in operation, and which will provide a variety of control features for various purposes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a projectile launcher having abutment means that are movable into the path of movement of the projectile to affect the flight thereof, to control either or both of the speed and direction of the projectile.

Still an additional object of the present invention is to proved a sequentially controlled loading, reloading, and release mechanism which will provide for the convenient loading and safe firing of the launcher in a simple and convenient manner.

. Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanicaladvantage system for energizing a spring type drive mechanism to impel the projectile at a selected speed and which requires a minimum amount of effort during the loading thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a projectile carrier within which the projectile is releasably supported for free flight movement therefrom immediately following the release of the drive mechanism and the carrier toward a launching position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an audible signal device connected to. the control system of the projectile launcher which will automatically emit an audible signal upon the launching of the projectile to signal such launching and to provide a realistic effect for various purposes.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a projectile launcher of the above type which includes a base having means for limiting the vertical and horizontal adjustment of the launcher so as to confine the projectile for movement along a path between predetermined limits, to provide a safety feature which will prevent accidental injury to participants and observers of any activites for which the launcher is utilized.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a projectile launcher bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture, and eflicient in operation. i

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following de- United States Patent Patented Sept. 3, 1963 tailed description taken in conjunction with the accomview of an audible panying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a projectile launcher made in accordance with the present invention, with all of the parts in an initial position ready to launch a projectile;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of certain parts of the assembly shown in FIGURE 2 with the parts in a position set to launch the projectile;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, showing the position of certain parts after the launching of a projectile and during one phase of resetting operation for returning the parts to the initial position shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded perspective view of certain parts of the control system forming a part of the present invention with the parts in the initial position illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 4;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse cross sectional view, taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6, showing the shape of the projectile carrier forming a part of the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the projectile deflectors forming a part of the present invention, with one of the deflector units in an operative position inthe path of the flight of a projectile leaving the launcher;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged transverse cross sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective signal device forming another part of the present invention;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of adjustable limit means controlling the path of flight of the projectile launched by the launcher.

The projectile launcher 20 made in accordance with the present invention includes a base, a housing carried upon the base, a projectile carrier supported for movement within the housing between an initial retracted and a released position, during the movement of which the projectile is impelled outwardly from the housing. De

flector means carried by the base, are also selectively movable into the path of movement of the projectile so as to abut therewith during the free flight of the projectile in order to affect the flight path and velocity thereof. A retracting mechanism acting between the projectile carrier, base, and the housing, the housing also being movably supported upon the base, enables the projectile carrier to be returned to the retracted position upon actuation of the housing with respect to the base following the launching of the projectile. In order to further add to Nhe realistic eifects of the projectile launcher, an audible signal device carried upon the base is actuated simultaneously with the release of the projectile. The base also includes limited adjustment means for preventing the launchingof a projectile beyond certain limits.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGURES l to 3 thereof, a projectile launcher assembly 20 made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a base having a lower frame portion 22 and spaced apart parallel sides 23 upon of which a pair of longitudinally spaced apmt front and rear spacer shafts -25, 26 are supported.

A housing or barrel 30', which serves as a guide for the projectile carrier 36 in a manner hereinafter more fully described, is provided with a depending web 29 having a longitudinal slot 255 which slidably receives the spacer shafts 215, 26 to support such housing or barrel 30 for reciprocating longitudinal movement with respect to the'base 22. Another cross shaft 32 carried upon the sides 23 of the base frame, intermediate the front and rear spacer shafts 25, 26, has secured thereon a pair of pawls 33, one on each side of the web 29, which are releasably' engaged with ratchet bars 34 secured to each side of the web piece 29. The pawls 33 engage with the ratchet bars 34 to releasably secure the web piece 29 and connected barrel or housing 30 in a retracted position, until released, in a manner hereinafter more fully explained.

A projectile carrier 36, in the form of 1a resilientcup 37 of substantially hollow hemispherical configuration, is provided with a pair of integrally imbedded arms 33 that are pivotally connected together by means of a hinge pin 39. The outermost ends of the arms 38 are in the form of lugs or detents which are slidably received within the longitudinal slots 4-5 on diametrically opposite sides of the barrel 39 which has a longitudinal bore 44 through which the projectile carrier 36 is movable. The rearmost extremity of each such longitudinal slot 45 in the barrel 30 is provided with-an offset recess or indent 46 within which the outermost free ends of the arms 38 of the ball carrier are releasably seated in the retracted position.

A pair of elastic bands 43 serve as drive means for effecting longitudinal movement of the projectile carrier 36 from the retracted position toward the released position with respect to the barrel 3t). Each'of the pair. of elastic bands 43, Supported upon the opposite sides of the barrel 30, is provided with a mounting member 49 for connection to the outermost lug end of the respective arm 38 of the projectile carrier 36, as Well as another mount 50 which is secured to the side 23 of the base frame. These bands 48 are in the most tensioned state when the projectile carrier 36 is seated Within the indents 46 0f the slots 45 and the barrel or housing 3%} is in the retracted position, all as shown in FIGURE 2. With the parts so positioned, the projectile 52 which may be any device, such as a baseball, may be placed Within the carrier 36 through a loading chute 53 in the rear end of the housing 30'.

A grab bar or fixed handle 55 is secured toeach dia- -metrically opposite side of the housing 30 and is adapted to be grasped by thehand. A pivot shaft 5 6 extends diametrically through the rear end of the housing 30 and through each such grab bar 55, for pivotally supporting a pair of manually operated handle elements in the form of levers 57. Each lever 57 is provided with .a central stop or abutment portion 59 which is engageable with the central web of a control yoke 60 also pivotally mounted upon the shaft 56. One leg 62 of the yoke 6d is directly beneath the outer free end of the carrier rod 58 when positioned within the indent or recess 46, while the opposite leg 63 thereof is provided with an upwardly turned web 64 that defines a cradle for slidably receiving one end of a lost motion release bar 67. The opposite end 4 most lug end of the carrier rod 38, in a position which will effect the release of the carrier in response to movement of the operating handle 57 with respect to the grab bar 55. However, a stop or abutment portion 59 of the operating handle 57 will engage with and actuate the yoke 6t) only after the carrier has been released. Such engagement of the stop portion 59 with the yoke 60 has the effect of rotating the cross shaft 32 to release the pawls 33 from the ratchet bars 34 to allow for the forward movement of the barrel with respect to the base. The important feature of this sequence control system is that the barrel is retained in the retracted position until after the elastic bands 48 have been allowed to drive the carrier forwardly, thus preventing the barrel from being thrown forwardly upon the base frame before the carrier has been released.

It will be recognized thatthe construction of the assembly2i is substantially symmetrical, the same type of control and operating elements being carried upon each side of the longitudinal central plane thereof. Thereof, it is to be understood that the operation of the control elements upon one side of the barrel is substantially identical to the operation of the parts on the opposite side.=

As is clearly shown in FIGURES 2 and 6 of the drawing, a reset lug 74 is secured to the cross shaft 32 adjacent to each one of the pawls 33. Such reset lug 74 is engageable with a laterally outwardly extending pin 75 carried by each ratchet bar 34 so as to automatically return the pawls 33 into an engageable position with the teeth of the ratchet bar 34 during the return movement of the barrel housing 3t toward the retracted position from a forwardly disposed position.

A rack gear 77 is secured to the free edge of the depending web piece 29 of the barrel housing 30', in meshing engagement with a pinion 78 secured to a transversely extending gear shaft 80 carried by the sides 23 of the base frame. A pair of laterally spaced apart spur gears 81 are also secured upon the gear shaft 80 in meshing engagement with a pair of substantially identicaldrive gears 82 that are secured upon the cross shaft 26. Also secured URE 2, toward the rear pulleys 84 in response to forward I forwardly moving rack gear 37 with the pinion 78 is op'.

of the lost motion release bar 67 is pivotally connected by means of a pivot pin 71 to an upper extremity of a link 72 that is secured at its lower end to the cross shaft 32 upon of which the release pawls 33 are mounted. The central'portion of the lost motion 'bar 67 is provided with an angularly related section having a longitudinal bore 68 that slidably receives a guide pin 69 secured to the side frame 23 of the base unit. While the downward pressure of the lost motion control bar 67 upon the cradle formed by the web 64 on the outer end of the yoke 60 urges the yoke so toward a vertical position, a depending stop edge 66' of the grab bar 55 limits such movement of the yoke 60 to the position shown in FIGURE 6. In such position, the one end 62 of the yoke 6%) is directly beneath the outermovement of the barrel housing 30. However, because of the gear ratio resulting from the size of the spur and drives gears 81, 32, relative to the pinion 78, the entire movement of the retracting hooks 91 between the forward and rear positions is accomplished by a much shorter length of travel by the barrel 39. Thus, as the barrel 30 and depending web 29 are moved forwardly, following the release of the projectile carrier, the meshing of the erative to effect rotation of the pulleys 84, 86 and belts to move the retracting books 91 rearwardly. These retracting hooks 91 thus carrythe free ends of the carrier arms 38, which are in the forwardmost released position, rearwardly to the rear pulleys 84. 'At this point, the indents 46 of the barrel 3% are in the same approximate location as the carrier arms 38, directly above the crossv shaft 26, so that upon inserting the projectile into the loadmg chute 53 and the carrier 36, a downward movement upon the carrier cup 37 is operative to lock the arm 38' within the indents :6. The operator, by then pulling rearwardly upon the grab bars F5, may load the elastic bands 48, the pawls 33 locking with the ratchet bars 34 in the rearmost position obtainable by theoperator, to thus reset the assembly for the next launching operation.

During this rearward energizing movement of the barrel 33 following the releaseiof the manner hereinbefore-described.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURES 8 and 9 of the drawing, a control system 109 is also provided for selectively effecting the free fiight of the projectile being impelled outwardly from the barrel housing 30. This control system 1% includes a pair of arcuate plates 101 having hinge portions 102, 1413 at one end that are pivotally supported upon a longitudinally extending hinge pin 194 carried by the barrel 31). Each one of the arcuate plates 1111 supports a selected number of yieldable fingers 106 having terminal protuberan-ces 1117 which are movable into the path of flight of the projectile in response to pivotal movement of the associated arcuate plate 101 in a direction toward the barrel 30. Each arcuate plate 101 is connected to one end of a tension coil spring 110 that is connected at its opposite end to the base frame 22. These springs normally maintain the spring fingers 106 out of the path of movement of the projectile launched from the barrel 30. However, a pair of control cables 1118 connected at one end each to one of the arcuate plates 101, are guided rearwardly through guide members 1119 mounted upon the barrel 3t) and through associated guide members 111 mounted upon the base frame, and are connected to the upper free ends of each of the manually operated handle elements 57. Thus, as both operating handle elements 57 are actuated to release the projectile carrier, the spring fingers 107 are also brought into the path of movement of the projectile at the forward end of the barrel 39. Therefore, as the projectile passes outwardly through the barrel 30, it will engage all of the spring fingers, thus substantially reducing the velocity thereof. On the other hand, if both operating handles 57 \are immediately released following projectile carrier in the the release of the projectile carrier, the fast acting tension springs 1161 will retract the spring fingers 106 from the path of movement of the projectile prior tothe exit of the projectile from the barrel, thus allowing the projectile to travel at maximum velocity. However, the operator may choose to release only one of the operating for abutment with a sounding block 127 mounted upon a fixed bracket 128. This knocker 126 carried by the link 124 is movable into and out of striking engagement with the sounding block 127 in response to pivotal movement of the link 124 upon the shaft 125. A torsion spring 129, however, yieldably resists movement of the link 124 in a direction away from the sounding block 127.

A control cable 112, for each such audible signal assembly, is connected at one end to the hinge plate 117 and guided through the guides 111 of the base frame, into secured engagement with the free end of the manually operated handle element 57 on each side of the barrel 30,- for connection thereto adjacent to the con trol cable 108 of the deflecting apparatus. Thus, each time that the manually operated handle element 57 is actuated, the hinge plate 117 is pivoted (about the sup porting pin 116, against the action of a return spring 123, to move the knocker 126 away from the sounding block 127. However, after a predetermined amount of movement of the plate 117 and extension 119, the link 124 will be released, so that the spring 129 will drive the handles 57 following the release of the projectile carrier, 1

in which event, the continued grasping of the other one of the operating handles will cause onlythe set of spring fingers associated therewith to be disposed in the path of travel of the projectile, in which case the protuberances 107 upon being struck by the projectile will tend to deflect it and/ or cause it to spin in the predetermined direction. Such deflection and/or spinning ofthe projectile will thus cause it to follow a difierent path than that defined by the longitudinal axis of the barrel housing 30, in a manner resembling that of a curve ball deliberately pitched by a baseball pitcher.

it will now be recognized that the operator of the device at the time of launching of the projectile, has it within his power to either allowthe projectile to be impelled at maximum velocity, deflected toward one side or the other, or slowed down equally on both sides to reduce the traveling velocity thereof. I

An audible signal assembly 115 is also secured to each side of the base frame for emitting an audible sound in response to the release of the projectile carrier. As is more clearly shown in FIGURE 10 0f the drawing, each such audible signal unit 1 15 includes a hinge shaft 116 that is carried by the sides 23 of the base frame. A hinge plate 117 is pivotally supported at one end upon the shaft 116, the opposite end of which is provided with a hinge pin 118 upon of which an extension119 is pivotally mounted. This extension 119 is provided with a depending stop element 1211 that is cngageable with the underside of the hinge plate 117 to limit the rotation of the extension 119 in one direction. A torsion spring 122 carried by the hinge pin 118 yieldably resists rotation of the extension 119 in the opposite direction. A link 124 pivotally supported at one end upon a fixed shaft 125 has a knocker 126 secured to the opposite free end lrnocker 126 into striking engagement with the sounding block 127, thus emitting an audible signal. Upon releasing the handle 57, the return spring 123 will return the plate 117 to its initial position, during which movement, the extension 119 will be allowed to pivot upon the shaft 118 to clear the lower end of the link 124 and to return to its initial position behind the link for the next sequence of operations.

With reference to FIGURES 1 and 11 of the drawing, it will be noted that the base 22 is provided with a depending sleeve 131) having a T-shaped slot 131 within which a guide pin 132 carried by a support rod 133 is received. This support rod 133 is provided with a hinge pin 135 for pivotally supporting the rod 133 upon a main support post 139. A segmental annular plate 137 secured at one end to the rod 133 is movable through a diametrically extending guide slot 138 in the post 139 for adjusting the angular position of the rod 133 relative to the post 139. A stop or lock pm 140 carried by the free end of the plate 137 may be used to secure the rod 133 in a vertical position. However, a bolt 143 carried upon the free ends of a pair of outwardly extending arms 142 of the post 139 may be inserted into: a plurality of apertures 145 in the plate 137 to secure the rod 133 in an angularly adjusted position with respect to the post 139. In any angularly adjusted position, an arcuate slot 141 in the arms 142 which receive the bolt 14-3, allow for limited angular movement of the rod 133 with respect to the post 139, thus providing the operator witha limited amount of control over the trajectory of the projectile. slot 131 in the sleeve 130 allows the operator a limited amount of directional control of the projectile between the limits defined by the opposite ends of the T-shaped slot engaged by the guide pin 132 carried by the rod 133.

The lowermost free end of the post 139 is received within the ground stake 147 having a plurality of diametrically oppositely extending fins 148 which will pro vide a rigid and sturdy support for the assembly during use. The uppermost end of the ground stake 147 is provided with an arcuate slot 151 through which a guide pin 151 secured to the lower end of the post 139 extends.

This slot 150, in conjunction with the T-shaped slot 131 in the sleeve 131), provides the operator with a limited amount of directional control over the path of travel of the projectile, in a lateral direction.

It will now be recognized that this device is especially useful for launching baseballs for batting and fielding practice. Not only does it permit the operator to deliver baseballs to the batter or the fielders With extremely accurate control, but also simulates the actual windup of a pitcher. As soon as one projectile has been released, both handles 57 are squeezed so that the barrel 3d may be moved forwardly upon the base frame in order to re- The horizontal portion of the T-shaped Patent of the United States is:

i set the ball carrier in the retracted position with respect to the barrel, and to allow 'for the loading of the ball into the projectile carrier. The pitcher may then complete his windup simply by pulling rearwardly on the grab handles 55, to reset the barrel with respect to the frame, thus simulating the final stages of the pitchers Windup.

' Immediately thereafter, the ball may be released and the direction and speed thereof controlled by manipulating the control handle elements 57 as the ball carrier moves the ball toward the outlet end of the barrel. The slits 42 in-the wall of the ball carrier allow the carrier to open to freely release the ball when the arms 38 strike the forward end of the longitudinal slots 45 of the barrel, rather than close down thereupon and thus reduce the velocity of the projectile. As a result, while the carrier may snugly secure the ball in place during the loading and initial forward movement thereof, as soon as the arms 38 strike the forward end of the barrel slots 45, the projectile is free to travel with maximum velocity.

While this invention has been specifically described in connection with use as a baseball pitching apparatus, it will be recognized that it has utility in related holds, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

While various changes may be made in the detail con.- struction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the append-ed claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect l. A projectile launcher comprising in combination, a base, a projectile carrier having means releasably carrying a'projectile, guide means carried by said base supporting said carrier upon said base for movement along a confined path, drive means acting between said base and said carrier for effecting movement of said carrier along said path, said guide means being supported upon said base for selected movement parallel to the direction of movement of said projectile carrier, said carrier being supported for movement relative to said guide means, said drive means comprising spring means acting between said carrier and said base, detent means releasably retaining said carrier in a retracted position upon said guide means against movement toward a released position by said spring means, lock means releasably securing said guide means in a retracted position upon said base against movement toward 2. released position by said spring means, said spring means being energized in response to by Letters 7 movement to said retracted position of at least one of said carrier and guide means, and control means sequentially releasing said detent and said lock means.

2. A projectile launcher as set forth in claim 1, further comprising deflector means supported adjacent to one end of said guide means, and motion transmitting means connected between said deflector means and said control means controlling the movement of said deflector means into and out of the path of movement of a projectile impelled outwardly through said one end of said guide means.

3. A projectile launcher as set forth in claim 2, where in said deflector means comprises a pair of sets of flexible fingers supported upon opposite sides of said one end of said guide means, and said motion transmitting means comprise a pair of flexible cables each connected between one of said pairs of sets of flexible fingers and said control means for actuation simultaneously therewith.

4. A projectile launcher as set (forth in claim 2, further comprising audible signal means carried by said base, and operating means connected between said audible signal means and said control means for actuating said audible signal means in response to actuation of said control means.

5. A projectile launcher comprising, in combination, a base, a projectile carrier having means releasably carrying a projectile, guide means carried by said base supporting said carrier upon said base for movement along a confined path, drive means acting between said base supported for movement relative to said guide means, said' drive means comprising spring means acting between said carrier and said base, detent means releasably retaining said carrier in a retracted position upon said guide means against movement toward areleased position by said spring means, lock means releasably securing said guide means in a retracted position upon said base against movement toward a released position by said spring means, said spring means being energized in response to movement to said retracted position of at least one of said carrier and guide means, control means sequentially releasing said detent and said lock means, said control means comprising a manually operated element acting upon said detent means, and lost motion means acting 7 between said manually operated element and said lock movable therewith along a path coextensive with the path 7 of travel of said carrier between a forward initial position and a rearward retracted position, and gear means drivingly connected to one of said pulleys for effecting rear-ward movement of said retracting book from said initial position in response to forward movement of said guide means relative to said base.

8. A projectile launcher as set forth in claim6, wherein said guide comprises an elongated housing defining a substantially straight passageway opening longitudinally outwardly toward oneend, said carrier being slidably supported upon said housing for reciprocating longitudinal movement within said passageway.

9. A projectile launcher asset forth in claim 8, wherein said elongated housing comprises a hollow tube of substantially circular cross section, said one end being open i for movement of a projectile outwardly therethrough, and

ing forwardly toward said one end of said housing.

11. A projectilela uncher as set forth in claim 8, wherein said detent means comprises a lug integral with said carrier, said housing having a recess offset from said path of longitudinal movement of said carrier releasably receiving said lug portion of said carrier in said retnacted position, and said manually operated element comprises a lever carried by said housing having a leg adjacent to said recess for selectively urging said lug out of said recess to release said carrier for longitudinal movement toward said one end of said housing by said drive means.

12. A projectilelauncher asset forth in claim 11, wherein said carrier'dfurther comprises a pair of arouate rods pivotally connected together at one end embedded within said wall, said housing having a side wall portion defining a pair of longitudinally extending slots, the outermost, ends of said rods extending through said slots of said housing for slidably guiding said carrier for longitudinal movement therealong; and said lug comprising said abutment in one of said rods.

13. -A projectile launcher as set forth in claim 12, wherein the opening defining walled portion of said housing defines the slots lying in a plane extending parallel to the pivot axis of said pivotally connected rods.

14. A projectile launcher as set forth in claim 11, wherein said lock means comprises a ratchet bar carried by said base, a pawl pivotally carried by said housing, said pawl releasably engaging with manually selected teeth of said ratchet bar for preventing movement of said housing toward said released position, and said lost motion means comprises a link system connected between said pawl and said manually operated element for disengaging said pawl and said ratchet bar subsequently to the movement of said carrier lug out of said housing recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 884,024- Lake Apr. 7, 1908 1,198,300 Watkins Sept. 12, 1916 2,267,163 Moser Dec. 23, 1941 2,921,574 Saito Jan. 19, 1960 

1. A PROJECTILE LAUNCHER COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A BASE, A PROJECTILE CARRIER HAVING MEANS RELEASABLY CARRYING A PROJECTILE, GUIDE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BASE SUPPORTING SAID CARRIER UPON SAID BASE FOR MOVEMENT ALONG A CONFINED PATH, DRIVE MEANS ACTING BETWEEN SAID BASE AND SAID CARRIER FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIER ALONG SAID PATH, SAID GUIDE MEANS BEING SUPPORTED UPON SAID BASE FOR SELECTED MOVEMENT PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID PROJECTILE CARRIER, SAID CARRIER BEING SUPPORTED FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID GUIDE MEANS, SAID DRIVE MEANS COMPRISING SPRING MEANS ACTING BETWEEN SAID CARRIER AND SAID BASE, DETENT MEANS RELEASABLY RETAINING SAID CARRIER IN A RETRACTED POSITION UPON SAID GUIDE MEANS AGAINST MOVEMENT TOWARD A RELEASED POSITION BY SAID SPRING MEANS, LOCK MEANS RELEASABLY SECURING SAID GUIDE MEANS IN A RETRACTED POSITION UPON SAID BASE AGAINST MOVEMENT TOWARD A RELEASED POSITION BY SAID SPRING MEANS, SAID SPRING MEANS BEING ENERGIZED IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT TO SAID RETRACTED POSITION OF AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CARRIER AND GUIDE MEANS, AND CONTROL MEANS SEQUENTIALLY RELEASING SAID DETENT AND SAID LOCK MEANS. 